Karnataka is one of the top study destinations in India for international students in 2026. Bengaluru alone hosts tens of thousands of foreign students from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, African nations, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, studying in universities like IISc, Manipal Academy, Christ University, Jain University, RV and PES. The good news is that international students in Karnataka can access a wide range of scholarships from the Indian government, foreign ministries and the universities themselves.
This complete guide covers the best scholarships in Karnataka for international students in 2026, including scholarship amounts, eligibility rules, application steps, plus essential information on student visas, health insurance and receiving money from home at the best exchange rates.
Top Scholarships For International Students In Karnataka 2026 โ Quick Overview
| Scholarship | Who Can Apply | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| ICCR Scholarships | Students From Partner Countries | Full Tuition Plus Monthly Stipend |
| Study In India (SII) Scholarship | Meritorious Foreign Students | Up to 100% Tuition Fee Waiver |
| SAARC Scholarships | Students From SAARC Nations | Tuition Waiver Plus Allowances |
| Manipal Academy Scholarships | International Applicants At MAHE | 10% โ 100% Tuition Concession |
| Christ University Merit Support | Foreign Students At Christ | Fee Concessions On Merit |
| Jain University International Grants | Foreign Students At Jain | Partial Tuition Waivers |
| IISc Research Fellowships | International PhD Candidates | Monthly Fellowship Plus HRA |
| AYUSH Scholarship | Foreign Students Of Yoga, Ayurveda | Tuition Plus Stipend |
| Commonwealth And Bilateral Schemes | Students From Specific Countries | Varies By Agreement |
ICCR Scholarships โ The Biggest Scheme For Foreign Students In India
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) runs the largest scholarship program for international students in India, and hundreds of these scholars study in Karnataka universities every year.
Benefits in 2026:
- Full tuition fee coverage at partner universities
- Monthly living stipend of approximately โน18,000 for undergraduate students, โน20,000 for postgraduate students and โน22,000 to โน25,000 for MPhil and PhD scholars
- Annual house rent allowance for students living outside campus hostels
- Contingent grant for books and study materials
- Medical coverage through the university health system
Eligible countries. ICCR schemes cover students from Africa (through the Africa Scholarship Scheme), Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Central Asia, ASEAN nations, Latin America and many more under different country quotas.
How to apply. Applications go through the A2A (Admissions to Alumni) portal of ICCR, usually opening between January and April for the academic year starting in July or August. Students select up to 3 universities, and Karnataka options like University of Mysore, Bangalore University and Manipal are popular choices.
Eligibility:
- Age between 18 and 30 for most programs
- Strong academic record in previous qualifications
- English proficiency test conducted by the Indian mission in the home country
- Students must not hold Indian citizenship or OCI status
Study In India (SII) Scholarship 2026
Study In India is the flagship program of the Indian government to attract foreign students, and it offers merit based fee waivers at partner institutions across Karnataka.
Benefits:
- Tuition fee waivers of 25 percent, 50 percent or up to 100 percent based on merit ranking
- Access to a single application portal for multiple Karnataka universities
- Simplified admission and visa documentation support
Eligibility:
- Minimum 60 percent or equivalent in qualifying examination
- Age within program limits
- Citizens of eligible countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East
Students apply through the official Study In India portal, select Karnataka institutions among their preferences and receive scholarship offers based on their merit rank.
University Scholarships In Karnataka For International Students
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). One of India’s most international campuses with students from over 55 countries. MAHE offers international merit scholarships ranging from 10 percent to 100 percent tuition concession based on academic scores, plus special scholarships for students from SAARC and African nations. Manipal’s international student office also assists with education loan tie ups for self funded students.
Christ University Bengaluru. Offers merit based fee concessions for international applicants with strong academic records, plus dedicated support through its International Student Services office.
Jain University Bengaluru. Provides partial tuition waivers for international students, with additional sports and merit scholarships.
RV University and PES University. Offer international merit awards on a case by case basis, particularly for engineering, computer science and management programs.
IISc Bengaluru. International PhD candidates receive institute fellowships covering monthly stipends comparable to Indian research scholars, plus hostel accommodation at subsidised rates. IISc also participates in bilateral research fellowship programs with several countries.
Alliance University, CMR University and Presidency University. These private Bengaluru universities regularly announce international student discounts of 20 to 50 percent on tuition to attract foreign enrolment, especially for African and Middle Eastern students.
SAARC And Country Specific Scholarships 2026
SAARC scholarships. Students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka can access dedicated seats and scholarships under SAARC quotas at Indian universities including several in Karnataka, with tuition waivers and monthly allowances.
Nepal students. Beyond ICCR, Nepali students benefit from the open border arrangement, no visa requirement and dedicated COMPEX scholarships for medical and engineering studies in India.
African students. The ICCR Africa Scholarship Scheme allocates thousands of slots annually, and Bengaluru is one of the most preferred destinations because of its climate, English speaking environment and IT ecosystem.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Bilateral schemes plus ICCR quotas support hundreds of students, particularly in engineering, pharmacy and business programs at Karnataka universities.
Documents Required For International Student Scholarships
- Valid passport with at least 2 years validity
- Academic transcripts and certificates with certified English translations
- English proficiency proof (test or medium of instruction certificate)
- Medical fitness certificate including required vaccination records
- Passport size photographs
- Statement of purpose and recommendation letters for merit scholarships
- Bank statements or sponsor letters for self funded portions
Student Visa Process For Studying In Karnataka 2026
International students need a Student Visa (S Visa) to study in Karnataka, except Nepal and Bhutan citizens who do not require a visa.
Step 1. Receive the admission offer letter from a recognised Karnataka university.
Step 2. Apply online through the Indian visa application portal and book an appointment at the Indian embassy or consulate in your country.
Step 3. Submit passport, admission letter, financial proof, medical certificates and visa fee. Scholarship award letters from ICCR or universities strengthen the financial proof requirement.
Step 4. After arrival in Karnataka, students staying longer than 180 days must register with the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) in Bengaluru within 14 days. Universities’ international offices assist with FRRO registration.
Step 5. Keep the residence permit updated and renew the visa before expiry for multi year courses.
Health Insurance For International Students In Karnataka 2026
Health insurance is mandatory at most Karnataka universities and essential for FRRO registration support documents.
University group insurance. Most universities including Manipal, Christ and Jain enrol international students in group health insurance plans costing โน2,000 to โน6,000 per year, covering hospitalisation up to โน1 lakh or โน2 lakh.
Individual health insurance. For stronger protection, international students can buy individual health insurance plans from Indian insurers like Star Health, Niva Bupa, Care Health Insurance and HDFC Ergo using their passport and student visa as identity proof. A โน5 lakh coverage plan costs between โน7,000 and โน12,000 per year for students in their twenties and provides cashless treatment at thousands of network hospitals across Bengaluru including Manipal Hospitals, Apollo, Fortis and Narayana Health.
Why it matters. A single dengue hospitalisation in a private Bengaluru hospital can cost โน40,000 to โน80,000. Insurance premiums are tiny compared to these bills, and comprehensive coverage protects scholarship students whose stipends cannot absorb emergency medical costs.
Receiving Money From Home โ Best Options For International Students In Karnataka 2026
Most international students receive money from their families for living expenses, and the transfer service chosen decides how much actually arrives after fees and exchange rate margins. On a $500 transfer, the difference between the best and worst option can be $15 to $30 per transfer, which becomes a significant amount over a 3 or 4 year course.
Wise offers the real mid market exchange rate with low transparent fees for transfers from over 70 countries into Indian bank accounts. Parents in Nepal, Bangladesh, the Gulf, Africa and Europe can send money that arrives within hours.
Remitly and Western Union are widely used by families in the Gulf and Africa. Western Union also allows cash payments at agent locations in the home country credited directly to the student’s Indian bank account.
Bank wire transfers (SWIFT) from foreign banks to Indian accounts work for large semester payments like tuition instalments but carry fees of $20 to $50 plus exchange margins, so they suit big one time transfers rather than monthly living money.
Student bank accounts. International students can open Indian bank accounts with SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank using passport, visa, FRRO document and university letter. A local account is essential for receiving ICCR stipends, paying hostel fees and daily UPI payments which dominate spending in Bengaluru.
Forex cards. Students from the Gulf and Africa often arrive with forex cards loaded in USD which work at Indian ATMs and stores, useful for the first weeks before the bank account opens.
| Transfer Method | Typical Cost On $500 | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | $3 โ $8 | Minutes To Hours | Monthly Living Money |
| Remitly | $0 โ $6 | Minutes To Same Day | Gulf And Africa Corridors |
| Western Union | $5 โ $15 | Minutes | Cash Sending Parents |
| Bank SWIFT Transfer | $20 โ $50 | 2 โ 5 Days | Tuition Instalments |
Cost Of Living For International Students In Karnataka 2026
| Expense | Bengaluru | Mysuru / Manipal |
|---|---|---|
| University Hostel | โน8,000 โ โน15,000 Per Month | โน5,000 โ โน10,000 |
| Shared PG / Flat | โน8,000 โ โน18,000 | โน5,000 โ โน9,000 |
| Food | โน5,000 โ โน8,000 | โน4,000 โ โน6,000 |
| Transport | โน1,000 โ โน2,500 | โน500 โ โน1,500 |
| Mobile And Internet | โน300 โ โน600 | โน300 โ โน600 |
| Total Monthly | โน14,000 โ โน26,000 | โน10,000 โ โน17,000 |
An ICCR stipend of โน18,000 to โน20,000 covers living costs comfortably in Mysuru or Manipal and modestly in Bengaluru if the student uses university hostels.
Education Loans For Self Funded International Students
Students who receive partial scholarships often fund the balance through education loans.
- Students from Nepal and Bhutan can access education loans from Indian banks under special provisions
- Most other international students take loans from banks in their home country, and universities like Manipal provide fee structure letters and admission documents needed for loan sanction
- Some international lenders offer collateral free education loans for students admitted to recognised Indian universities, with the loan disbursed directly to the university
Comparing interest rates, moratorium periods and processing fees across lenders before signing saves lakhs over the loan term.
How To Maximise Scholarship Chances โ Practical Tips
Apply early. ICCR and Study In India applications open months before the academic year. Early applicants get first preference for popular Karnataka universities.
Apply to multiple schemes. ICCR, SII and university scholarships can be pursued in parallel. Accept the best offer.
Maintain strong grades. Most university scholarships require renewing merit every year with minimum GPA requirements. A dropped scholarship doubles costs overnight.
Use the international office. Every major Karnataka university has an international student office that knows about smaller scholarships, fee waivers and assistantships that are never advertised widely.
Keep documents perfect. Translation errors, missing attestations and name mismatches between passport and certificates are the most common rejection reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students get Karnataka state government scholarships like SSP?
No. State Scholarship Portal schemes require Karnataka domicile and Indian citizenship. International students should target ICCR, Study In India, SAARC and university scholarships instead.
Which Karnataka city is cheapest for international students?
Mysuru and Manipal offer the lowest living costs with strong universities. Bengaluru costs more but offers the biggest ecosystem for internships and networking.
Can international students work part time in Karnataka?
Indian student visas do not permit off campus employment. Students can take on campus roles like research assistantships where the university allows, and paid internships require specific approvals.
Is IELTS mandatory for studying in Karnataka?
Many universities accept a medium of instruction certificate instead of IELTS if previous education was in English. ICCR conducts its own English test through Indian missions.
How much does an ICCR scholar actually receive per month?
Undergraduate scholars receive around โน18,000 monthly, postgraduate around โน20,000 and research scholars โน22,000 to โน25,000, plus HRA if living outside campus hostels.
Can scholarship students bring dependents?
Student visas generally do not cover dependents for undergraduate students. Research scholars may apply for dependent visas in specific cases.
Final Words
Karnataka combines quality universities, an English speaking environment, a huge international student community and real scholarship money in 2026. Between ICCR full scholarships with monthly stipends, Study In India fee waivers up to 100 percent, SAARC quotas and generous university merit awards at Manipal, Christ and Jain, funded education in Bengaluru or Manipal is genuinely achievable for students from Asia, Africa and beyond.
Apply early through the ICCR A2A portal or Study In India platform, keep your documents translated and attested, arrange your health insurance and student bank account soon after arrival and use smart transfer services like Wise to make every dollar your family sends go further.
